1974 to 2007 what changes?

Let me take you back to 1974 when I had a 28 inch waist, long hair and the most appalling taste in clothes on the planet.

I was 19 and I had just broken up with my gf - we decided on a trial separation (actually suggested by my Dad - who advised me if we were apart for a while we would soon 'know'). Turns out he was right - 3 days were enough and just one year later Esu and I married.

Fast forward to 2007... Today I'm spending some time with my youngest son (19) who has just started a trial separation from his gf of some 3 years. I hope to cheer him up and I would do anything to help ease his hurt - as I know it only too well.

Of course, I cannot. Such is the nature of both love and being a parent. I can offer platitudes, sometimes strangely familiar ones.

So have things changed in the 33 years - massively (the waist line and hair for sure).

Have the things that really matter changed? Not one iota - and I find that reassuring. People matter as they did then, emotions matter as they did then; all the rest is detail - just as it was then.

A toast then to life, love and things staying the same.